This Ventura highway leads to Iron & Resin

Iron & Resin is the new USA cool

Iron & Resin in Main Street, Ventura, California is a cool place. Opened on July 4^th (American Independence Day) this year, the store facade is similar to Mid Life Cycles – a big door opening from the street into the showroom. Except here the bikes are fewer in number and there to draw attention to the merchandise – T-shirts, jackets, retro-style Bell open face helmets, books, posters, badges and much more, including surf gear. Three bikes including the owner’s recently-restored 1950s Triumph twin and an early Honda Dream 305 are just enough to attract the “right” crowd, those who appreciate classic style.

I&R co-founder Thom Hill is equally able to chat with the old codgers who remember his Triumph when it was showroom-fresh while also talking to the visitors who are new to classic bikes. Thom says he "knows the Deus guys" who’ve also recently opened a store in Los Angeles, an hour or so south of Ventura. I&R's staff are friendly and helpful and obviously enjoy the place's funky mechanical style. For more: http://www.ironandresin.com/blog

Been there, got the T-shirt(s)

 

 

 

Ace 125s and Silver Shogun on the road

Anthony and Ace 125 ready to raid and pillage along the promenade

A busy weekend saw two Ace 125s and our Honda CB125 Silver Shogun cafe racer all take to the roads around Mid Life Cycles. First we had Anthony call in for a few minor adjustments to his Ace 125 before he took it for a run down the Bayside promenade. A short session on the bench with Dr Roger had it idling properly and revving-out as it should. Anthony has plans for his Ace and we'll try out a few mods on ours as well and report back on what works best. In fact, a set of Pirelli tyres plus after-market shocks and a few adjustments to the front forks seem to be a good start. Next up might be some adjustments to the stock carburettor or maybe a replacement carby along with a pod filter and related changes to help get the fuel-air mixture in and the exhaust gases out.

We also had new Silver Shogun owner Romi in to discuss the possibility of getting a bike for his brother-in-law-to-be, Rega. As Romi seems to be permanently attached to his CB125 cafe racer, it didn't take much to get Rega out for a ride on our Ace CR125.

Romi (left) and Rega are rapt in their new rides

Ducati 450 Single joins 900SS Bevel and Mule XS650 Street-tracker

The Mid Life Cycles workshop has been busy again with some interesting and diverse bikes, from classic Ducati Single to a Yamaha XS650-based street-tracker.

Nick's Ducati 450 Mark 3 heads a Latin line-up

First on the list for Sam Speer's expert attention was a very neat Ducati 450 Mark 3 that's been sitting idle for a while now. Some concentrated work on carb and electrics got this bevel-engined beauty up and running. Sam says it rides as well as it looks - for a short distance. Now we need to source a new alternator to keep the good spark going and a replacement for the tired Dellorto carby so it doesn't fuel up the plug after a short run. The Dellorto is a work of art - and this one will make a good shelf ornament. Call it another sacrifice to the Gods of Speed or other Ducati Deities. But it looks great alongside our almost-completed bevel-engined Ducati 900SS replica.

Yes, they do look good together...

Sandy finally gets to ride his Mule XS650 Tracker

Next up was Sandy's Mule XS650 Street Tracker. This one would have tested the patience of a weaker man, but Sandy's been waiting a while - first for the bike to be built in the States and delivered, and then for us to get it somewhere near road-legal and to sort out some teething troubles. Dr Roger fabricated front guard and chain guard, fitted a mirror, got the speedo working and wired the lights to... light; Sam stepped in to make sure the fuel flowed and the CDI unit fired that big grunty twin... There was a bit to do. But it now starts and rumbles like the big-engined XS that it is and Sandy is looking forward to riding Melbourne's streets and doing a few selected shows.



It's a handsome beast... 

Simon and his Norton 750 Commando

We get some enthusiastic visitors at Mid Life Cycles - and one of the more interesting recently was Simon, who rode out of his personal Tardis to bring us a touch of the Seventies.

Simon and his well-used Norton Commando

Simon has owned his Norton 750 Commando "for years" and he's modified it along the way to make it more rideable, if not more reliable. The early Honda CB750 front forks and disc brake conversion make for an interesting cross-pollination between the bike that changed motorcycling and one of the last (and best) of traditional British motorcycles. The fairing looks like it's been there since the Seventies and the overall bike looks well thought-through, and well-used.
And Simon? It would be unfair to say he looks well-used, in fact he's in fine fettle, but with open-face helmet and wrap-around shades and those fantastic period leathers, Simon is definitely Living the Dream...

Kawasaki's retro Classic ZR750

1998 Kawasaki ZR750 Classic

Not quite a cafe racer - but a handsome retro-classic.

Kawasaki built a limited run of its ZR750 Classic for model years 1996 and 1998. The Classic is based on the long-running Zephyr series, with added features such as wire-spoked wheels, four-into-two exhaust and paint schemes that paid tribute to the iconic Kawasaki Z1. We've developed a real liking for these very rideable retro-bikes.
Check it out at:
http://www.midlifecycles.com.au/classic/

Honda's CB Singles make great cafe racers

Sammy the CB100 Cafe Racer

And here he is – Sammy the CB100 cafe racer. Every visitor to Mid Life Cycles is blown away by what ace builder Darren Brown has created here – a bike that’s more mascot than motorcycle, more art than machine, more Honda CR than CB… and it runs as well as it looks. We are building more of these, so Sammy is currently our Showpiece. Please inquire about your cafe racer build on any of Honda's classic CB series.
M: 0408 129 169
E: midlifecycles@gmail.com

Honda CB125 Silver Shogun cafe racer

Meet “Silver Shogun”, a Honda CB125-based cafe racer that makes short work of the local urban circuit. Bike-builder Luke Ward used a Prixhistoric Fibreglass Ducati Silver Shotgun tank and a neat seat unit to top-off this great example of a custom build.

Coffee stop for cafe racers

We've had some neat cafe racers and classics come through the Mid Life Cycles workshop this week and the repairs have been fuelled by coffee and ciabattas courtesy of our neighbouring cafe, Est.1983 Espresso.

Morgan's Honda CB200 outside our fave cafe.

The first bike through was Morgan G's Honda CB200 (ex-Adelaide) which needed a few final touches before it went onto Club Permit (Historic rego) with the Vintage Japanese Motorcycle Club.
The bike had a fair birthday courtesy the guys at Gassit Motorcycles when it was first delivered and then needed a bit of re-wiring, a couple of globes and a thorough check-over before passing its safety inspection. If the mid-winter rain ever eases, Morgan should have it out on the urban prowl...
Then there was Irish lad Ben - set upon riding around Australia on a near-forty year old Honda CB550. The bike itself wasn't in bad shape, apart from clogged carbies and float levels all over the shop. A few hours patient care from Dr Roger and the 550 was back together and running well. Now we just have to persuade Ben that a 20-litre plastic jerrycan strapped to a packrack is NOT a great auxiliary fuel tank.

Next up was one of our favourites - a really neat Yamaha SR500 that had been restored and then needed a few extra jobs done for enthusiastic new owner Tom.

Tom's 1978 Yamaha SR500 is ready to ride.

Maybe it's just us, but it seems no matter how good the restoration (or refurbishment) is, there are always a few detail jobs that don't get done first time round. The SR has been nicely done, with just a few custom touches such as clip-on bars, and a new cafe racer seat that we had in stock. It deserved that little bit extra attention, especially when we found the forks had been over-filled with oil and needed to be pulled, drained and re-fitted. In the course of that job, it became obvious that the head-stem bearings should be replaced, so a new set of tapered bearings went in there (after a bit of a search around our suppliers). The fuel tap had decided to leak, so that got a new kit courtesy of Cykel. So Tom should be bike-mounted in the next few days.




But back to cafes - our new best coffee friends Est.1983 Espresso are right next door to Mid Life Cycles in Cremorne St, just off Swan St in Richmond and a couple of hundred metres from Richmond Station - itself a short train ride from Melbourne's CBD.

Ioanna knows the value of a good coffee...

New owners Ioanna and Melinda re-opened the business mid-April after refurbishing what had become a tired old cafe. Now with a trendy service window opening onto the street, some inside benches and tables on the footpath, and (most importantly) great coffee courtesy Single Origin Roasters in Sydney, they've become the hot spot for locals and passers-by. Call and see them Monday-Friday for coffee and cake or something more substantial.